Tweets - The weather last night and early this morning was NOT auspicious.
Still, six of us started out, with 3 more joining later. It was definitely
dark and damp at 7:30, but slowly the weather improved, until it was sunny
and very pleasant. We really didn't get rained on at all, which was
amazing.

And it was birdy - especially a great day for sparrows, with TEN species.

Highlights:

Gr. Wh.-fronted Goose Juvenile with CANGs near main entrance
Cackling Goose 2 (one minima subspecies, one not), also there
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 at Rowing Club (1 there yesterday too)
Hermit Thrush At least 3 just east of lake platform
Varied Thrush Heard opposite Rowing Club dock
Townsend's Warbler Matt had one NE of the mansion
Fox Sparrow At least 10-15, some singing
Lincoln's Sparrow 7-10, mostly at the Compost Piles
SWAMP SPARROW 1 north of weir, another sighting at Compost Piles
White-throated Sparrow 1 between E end of boardwalk and E. Meadow

We had the excitement of the SWAMP SPARROW about 150 yards north
(downstream) of the weir in and near the willow edge to the channel. Got a
few glimpses, then a few minutes later got to see it quite well a second
time.

The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was moving moderately high up in some large
willows, in that section a bit north of the east end of the boardwalk where
the willows press close to the trail. We heard its "chink" call and tracked
it down. Nice yellow lores; stripe a bit inbetween white and tan.

The Compost Piles were Sparrow Central. We had nine species of sparrow
there - Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow,
Lincoln's Sparrow, glimpses of a SWAMP SPARROW, White-crowned Sparrow,
Golden-crowned Sparrow, and Dark-eyed Junco. There were also dozens of
House Finch and a few American Goldfinch. Well over 100 birds were there,
and nary a raptor or shrike to be seen. Many of the sparrows were taking
baths, giving us great looks.

For the day, 57 species. The two small geese, the Hermit Thrush, the Varied
Thrush, and the White-throated Sparrow were First of Fall birds.

For the year, I think we're at 143 species.

== Michael Hobbs
== Kirkland, WA
== http://www.scn.org/fomp/birding.htm
== birdmarymoor at verizon.net